The United Nations is investigating a massacre of civilians in the remote northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The murders were reportedly committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army in the village of Mabanga. Human rights groups say at least 320 people were murdered with machetes, axes, and heavy wooden sticks.

Martin Nesirky, the U.N. Secretary-General’s spokesperson, told reporters in New York that the UN cannot confirm the exact number of victims until the formal investigation by the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC has been completed. He said that the extreme remoteness of the area and the fact that witnesses may have moved were delaying efforts to gather reliable information. Some reports are that the Lord's Resistance Army had kidnapped new child soldiers. The group has already been indicted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges.